First it was Gorges. He sucks. Then it was Ennis, and then Kane, and Moulson, and Gionta. They suck. Heck, you guys were even complaining about Bogo and he wasn't even playing. They're not all stars, they are what they are.

News flash you guys. It's a young team with a lot of new faces and a new coaching staff. It takes time. I give them kudos for the record they actually have. Just enjoy the season, they're more entertaining to watch.
- mhp

Last night was very last season-esque.

I don't buy that. By all accounts he's a fitness freak. Look at Duncan Keith. Guy played the most minutes ever in one playoffs and won the Conn Smythe still playing lights out right up until the end. Now playing 25 minutes every night is probably too much, but 22 is totally fine with a 25 minute game thrown in every once in a while, and he seems to get "maintenance" days off during the week too, so that helps with recovery. But if he starts showing signs of fatigue then obviously dial him back. The way these guys train and more importantly eat in this day and age; I'm not too concerned at this time.
- Wetbandit1

There are a lot of fitness freaks in professional sports. I find it hard to believe that O'Reilly is in such better shape than other top line players for other teams that he can handle such a large workload. You do realize he leads all forwards in the NHL in ice time? Almost all players train and eat well, yet the coaches on other teams aren't playing their best forwards who are in great shape this many minutes.

Also the comparison to Keith doesn't do much for me. O'Reilly is a center, he covers more ice, forechecks, and is on the receiving end of more hits by, on average, bigger hitters than a defenseman would be. A better comparison would be someone like Kovalchuk who used to average 26 minutes when with the Devils, but their styles are very different, O'Reilly plays a very hard game, Kovalchuk coasted.

My worry is that O'Reilly is putting it all on himself, he takes responsibility for everything and puts in maximum effort every night. I don't think he is the type of player who is going to tell the coach he is tired and needs a break. And if O'Reilly goes down this team is in a lot of trouble.

But you do make a some good points, especially the maintenance days.

Last night was very last season-esque.
- Sabresfan-365

They were only down 1-0 early in the 3rd, to one of the best teams in the league on their home ice. Get the next one, tie the game and who knows.

Good posts soljor and Ion, very fair assessments. I like the lines you suggested soljor. Go with it, why not.

Not much.
- Wetbandit1

Sweet... Had a date with a Vietnamese girl last night.
"Insert non-racist joke here"

Is it true PK is injured again?
Torpedoed himself into the boards again?

The Leafs viewpoint on Dallas is meh!

Thankfully there are only two games left in this very difficult stretch. I'm frustrated at the lack of offense but still encouraged that we have been in every game. This isn't the stretch to lose hope in the team but I do think some lineup shuffling is needed. Maybe ROR with Kane?

So much is made about needing wingers who can keep up with Eichel but the reality is that goals off a rush aren't as common in today's NHL. I think Jack needs to use his line mates more. Trying to go around the D for a low percentage stuff in hasn't worked. He has good vision and could use it more to thread a pass. In the last 10 games he has looked more for the one man play.

Only Philly, Carolina and Anaheim have scored less goals than us so far this season. And only 6 teams have less points.

Last night was what, his second game back after a knee injury? Is Kane now the new Stafford? Maybe we should trade him and a few others.
- mhp

Yes, and the first 8 games were his first games back after shoulder surgery. He's got 3 points in 10 games. And then he will have another injury we can make excuses about.

On the positive side, ten teams have given up more goals.

They were only down 1-0 early in the 3rd, to one of the best teams in the league on their home ice. Get the next one, tie the game and who knows.
- mhp

Great post

Yes, and the first 8 games were his first games back after shoulder surgery. He's got 3 points in 10 games. And then he will have another injury we can make excuses about.


- sbroads24

Cmon now, only been a few games. Do you really not notice a good player on the ice when u watch kane play? Yes he hasnt been producing but he hasnt even played enough to have a hot streak. Guy is noticable on the ice, in a good way.

Cmon now, only been a few games. Do you really not notice a good player on the ice when u watch kane play? Yes he hasnt been producing but he hasnt even played enough to have a hot streak. Guy is noticable on the ice, in a good way.
- joshs

Especially being compared to stafford, who is invisible on the ice the majority of games.

Cmon now, only been a few games. Do you really not notice a good player on the ice when u watch kane play? Yes he hasnt been producing but he hasnt even played enough to have a hot streak. Guy is noticable on the ice, in a good way.
- joshs

Yea he's good. He's just not much more.

I expected more from him, and less from O'Reilly.

Yea he's good. He's just not much more.

I expected more from him, and less from O'Reilly.
- sbroads24

Me too.

Yea he's good. He's just not much more.

I expected more from him, and less from O'Reilly.
- sbroads24

So you judge him based on only 10 games sandwiched between two pretty significant injuries? Broads, you're an excellent poster with real good opinions, most of which I agree on but your view on Kane is puzzling.

Cmon now, only been a few games. Do you really not notice a good player on the ice when u watch kane play? Yes he hasnt been producing but he hasnt even played enough to have a hot streak. Guy is noticable on the ice, in a good way.
- joshs

I notice him, but I am also looking for him, so it's hard to say why I notice him. I will credit him with a nice pass to Moulson last night. Other than that he did very little to help our offense. And his double minor for high sticking when the game was still close was a bad, undisciplined penalty. Which, IMO, made his overall performance a negative for the team.

So you judge him based on only 10 games sandwiched between two pretty significant injuries? Broads, you're an excellent poster with real good opinions, most of which I agree on but your view on Kane is puzzling.
- mhp

He's just not a top line winger. The things I have noticed have nothing to do with his injuries.

His lack of being able to create chances on his own is alarming for a guy with his talent. He just isn't creative.

I love the thought of him playing 2nd line LW with Reinhart and someone else down the road, but they need to work on finding two others to play with Eichel.

The goaltending and defense have been solid for this team and have had them in every game. And thats against the Eastern confernece champs 4 times and the leagues top offense twice in a row. However Gionta, Girgensons, Foligno Ennis and Kane are on pace for a combined 30 goals(not counting games missed). That must change.

The goaltending and defense have been solid for this team and have had them in every game. And thats against the Eastern confernece champs 4 times and the leagues top offense twice in a row. However Gionta, Girgensons, Foligno Ennis and Kane are on pace for a combined 30 goals(not counting games missed). That must change.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Pretty much.

It's not just a knock on Kane. It's all of them.

I notice him, but I am also looking for him, so it's hard to say why I notice him. I will credit him with a nice pass to Moulson last night. Other than that he did very little to help our offense. And his double minor for high sticking when the game was still close was a bad, undisciplined penalty. Which, IMO, made his overall performance a negative for the team.
- SabresPanacea

Nobody looked good last night. We had a hard time breaking out cleanly bcz of dallas's forecheck. When we did they took penalties and we didnt score on our pps. 5 v 3 for almost a minute and we didnt even set up.

Pretty much.

It's not just a knock on Kane. It's all of them.
- sbroads24

people say it's a youth issue, it's definitely not a youth issue.

They were only down 1-0 early in the 3rd, to one of the best teams in the league on their home ice. Get the next one, tie the game and who knows.
- mhp

I thought Dan should have challenged the 3rd goal, as Benn looked offside to me...might have stayed a 2-goal game with about 10 minutes left if it was reversed.

But we really needed a goal on the 5 on 3, and we took way too many penalties.

He's just not a top line winger. The things I have noticed have nothing to do with his injuries.

His lack of being able to create chances on his own is alarming for a guy with his talent. He just isn't creative.

I love the thought of him playing 2nd line LW with Reinhart and someone else down the road, but they need to work on finding two others to play with Eichel.
- sbroads24

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with a full season before I judge. Let him play with ROR and Reinhart and let's see how it goes. He might only get 10 goals this year, maybe less. I would agree that he is ideally a 2nd line LW with prime pp time.